Abstract

Muscular strength and power are two significant physical fitness capacities that underlie athletic success, where strength refers to the force or torque a muscle or muscle group can generate, and power is defined as the rate of performing work, or the product of force and velocity [1, 2]. It is the expression of these foundation physical capacities that influence various sport performance indices, for instance, speed and agility [1]. Specifically, enhancing muscular strength and power will positively impact such athletic qualities, thereby optimising performance. Testing maximal strength and power of the lower body is common practice in the assessment of human exercise performance, with the isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) [3, 4] and vertical jump (VJ) [5, 6], being two of the most widely used methods. Specifically, the IMTP measures isometric peak force (PF) and the rate of force development (RFD), while the VJ measures PF, take-off velocity and power [5, 7]. However, despite the importance of strength and power across numerous athletic populations [1], there has been limited investigation in relating strength and power variables to actual indices of performance (i.e. speed and agility). It is logical to implement strength and power assessments displaying a high degree of specificity in order to draw appropriate conclusions. Thus, testing methods that comprise characteristics of a specific sport performance are necessary for the optimal application of the results obtained [8]. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the relationship between IMTP and VJ test variables with common fundamental performance measures, specifically speed and agility, in sub-elite athletes from various sporting disciplines.